• Building a financial forecast, model and budget

    UnLtd webinar

    David Wilsdon

    Green Accountancy

    Thursday 2 July 2026

  • What this session will help you do

     

    • Understand what a financial forecast is
    • Build a simple, practical model
    • Avoid common mistakes
    • Leave with something you can use

     

  • Budget vs forecast vs model

     

    • Forecast: your latest expectation of monthly income and expenditure - updated ongoing

    • Budget: a static snap shot of your forecast for the year ahead - updated annually.

    • Model: the structure behind it

     

  • Why build a financial forecast

     

    • Helps you make decisions early

    • Shows when cash pressure is coming

    • Tests whether your plans are affordable

    • Gives confidence when discussing growth

     

  • Introducing our case study:

    Bowman Community Market Garden CIC

    • small site (approx. 30m x 30m)
    • initial grant funding of £100k (year 1)
    • requirement to support people in recovery and serve the wider community
    • long-term aim to break even by year 3 with only £10k ongoing annual grant funding

  • Income Streams

    • sale of produce grown on site
    • small-scale events, workshops, open days
    • local advertising and sponsorship
    • fundraising
    • potential future consultancy supporting corporates with similar plots

  • Cost Areas

    • staff / support workers
    • seeds, tools and materials
    • site costs (rent, utilities, insurance)
    • marketing and events

     



  • Income Streams

     • Income streams
    • sale of produce grown on site
    • small-scale events (workshops / open days)
    • local advertising / sponsorship
    • fundraising
    • potential future consultancy (supporting corporates with similar plots)

  • Should be Empty: